Awake Quote by Flann O'Brien
“When a man sleeps, he is steeped and lost in a limp toneless happiness: awake he is restless, tortured by his body and the illusion of existence. Why have men spent the centuries seeking to overcome the awakened body? Put it to sleep, that is a better way. Let it serve only to turn the sleeping soul over, to change the blood-stream and thus make possible a deeper and more refined sleep.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Third Policeman, 1939
The passage reflects existential angst, contrasting the numbness of sleep with the restless awareness of waking life, questioning the pursuit of deeper consciousness.
In simple terms: Sleep is peace; waking is turmoil.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance between awareness and peace.
Themes
existentialism
consciousness
pain
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- meditation
- therapy
- creative writing
- philosophical discussion
Key Concepts
philosophy
mind‑body dualism
nihilism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can discomfort lead to insight?
- What does “deeper sleep” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
The view may undervalue the growth from struggle.
![“I am your soul and all your souls. When I am gone you are dead. Past humanity is not only implicit in each new man born but is contained in him,[...] All humanity from its beginning to its end is already present but the beam has not yet played beyond you! [...] You are not the top of your people's…” quote by Flann O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f2a/flann-o-brien-6916_soul_i-am-your-soul-and-all-your-souls-when-i_105303.jpg)
